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Straws in the wind

12 September 2014 / Roger Smith
Issue: 7621 / Categories: Opinion , Human rights
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Roger Smith looks to the future

Three stories at the cutting edge of legal developments this month: two about human rights, a subject likely to feature in the next election, and one illustrating new developments in a rapidly changing profession.

The President on the road & in the groove

Lord Neuberger clearly decided on a busman’s holiday. He gave seven speeches during August in Australia (four), New Zealand (two) and Hong Kong. Some of his subjects reflected his commercial background. Let us pass over “The remedial constructive trust—fact or fiction”. It is as erudite as you would expect but not for the general reader. The meat for us came in Victoria with a speech on “the role of the judiciary in human rights jurisprudence”.

Lord Neuberger makes a nice point on the hierarchy of power: “In a parliamentary democracy without a constitution…there is a pecking order. First, there is the legislature who can always overrule court decisions; second come the judiciary, who have to give effect to statutes and respect to parliament,

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Ceri Morgan, knowledge counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, analyses the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd, which reshapes the law of fiduciary relationships and common law bribery
The boundaries of media access in family law are scrutinised by Nicholas Dobson in NLJ this week
Reflecting on personal experience, Professor Graham Zellick KC, Senior Master of the Bench and former Reader of the Middle Temple, questions the unchecked power of parliamentary privilege
Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses
James Grice, head of innovation and AI at Lawfront, explores how artificial intelligence is transforming the legal sector
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